We have inherited from a long tradition the images that flash across our minds during today's reading of Acts 2:1-21. The church claims Pentecost as its natal date. The birthday of the church is the day on which the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus' frightened and furtive disciples, transforming them into power players and proclaimers of the gospel.

Ecclesial tradition envisions Pentecost as a miracle of language. The miracle was not one of ecstatic utterances such as Paul speaks of in Corinthians, but one of the Good News being preached to a multicultural multitude of listeners who understood the disciples, each in his or her own language. On Pentecost, our mind's eye sees tongues of fire, while our mind's ear hears a symphony of languages pouring forth over the crowds.

But the miracle th…